IT professionals are under no illusion that they’re facing one of the most challenging years in recent history. With headcount reductions expected to be both broad and deep, perhaps it’s time to put things into perspective.
Opinion and impact of the current market varies widely from company to company depending on their service offering and how well they are run. Cutting staff is the first knee jerk reaction implemented by most companies the minute the market looks like taking a downturn. It’s those IT professionals at the lower end of the technical spectrum that are likely to be hit first, as companies look to reduce their costs and sacrifice ‘luxury’ items. Despite this, we’ve already seen signs that a lot of companies have over cut and are now in a position where they have to recruit again in order to sustain their businesses. Though this paints a picture of an indecisive industry, there still remain a number of opportunities to leverage out there for those determined enough to find them.
Recent research indicated that some 62% of HR directors are claiming that their organisation is still suffering a skills shortage, pointing to a more optimistic future for IT professionals provided we can nurture students and young people and better promote the prospects a career in IT can bring. Core skills and business critical projects will always be in demand especially in the fast paced IT environment, keeping the flow of talent moving and retaining professionals in the industry itself may pose more difficult problems.